Why Go to College? 6 Wrong & Right Reasons to Go to College
Right & Wrong Reasons to Go to College
DISCLAIMER: This post is sponsored by Vista College. However all thoughts, experiences & opinions are my own.
Why go to college?
That’s a question that’s on a lot of potential student’s minds these days. And it’s no wonder!
As the cost of a college education continues to rise, it becomes more important to have the right reasons to go to college.
No matter your socioeconomic background or where you see yourself in the future, you’ve likely thought about going to college. While higher education can most certainly help you reach your goals and fulfill your potential, again you’ve got to make sure you attend college for the right reasons.
Otherwise:
You may be wasting your time, energy and money – which is certainly something best to be avoided.
To help you out:
In this post there are a few wrong and right reasons to head off to college.
Why Go to College?
Right Reason: To Boost Your Earning Potential
There’s no denying that having a college education can help you earn more and progress in your chosen career.
Your degree may also be just the thing to provide you with job security and the peace of mind that comes with it.
While it’s not entirely unusual to hear of degree holders working in jobs that don’t require a higher education…
…the fact still remains that they’re likely to have an easier time securing better-paying jobs should they become available. Which is why I would classify this as a good reason to go to college.
Wrong Reason: Because You’re Expected To
Maybe your parents and extended family expect you to be the first one to go to college, or perhaps everyone in your family has gone to college and you doing the same has never been a question.
Even though you may have other plans in mind for yourself, you could be thinking about going to college anyway. I encourage you to think for yourself when it comes to this decision!
You have to consider the fact that this is YOUR life, and yours alone to live.
What’s more is that you’re the one who may saddle yourself with an immense debt that can take more than several years to pay off, all while you have a degree that you don’t even want.
Do what feels right to YOU!
Even if it means:
Going to a community college or attending college later in life, when you know for sure what you want to do.
- Also Read: How to Pay For College on Your Own
Right Reason: Gain Some Direction in Your Life
If you’re feeling aimless in life, earning a college education can introduce you to a realm of possibilities that you may not have known existed.
The world is changing on a daily basis, and you never know when a new industry may be getting up and running. You know, one that’s PERFECT for your skills, goals and lifestyle.
Rather than feel aimless and unsatisfied in your current life and where it’s headed:
Enroll in college to see if your teachers, classes and fellow students can put you on the right path.
But:
If you’re going for this reason, I recommend choosing a community college to keep down your expenses while you’re figuring out what you want to major in.
Wrong Reason: You Like the Idea of Going to a Party School
Why go to college?
Definitely not just for this reason!
Some institutions have a reputation of being party schools where students are more likely to attend raves than go to class. If you like to party, you may feel this is the perfect environment for someone like you.
Know that the cost of attending a party school is much, much higher than the cost of a cover to get into a club – where you can also engage in raucous behavior (hopefully without drinking and driving or other illegal actions).
Even if:
You can see yourself being a party promoter, club manager or anything similar, you do not have to go to a party school to learn the ins and outs of the trade!
Right Reason: Broaden Your Skill Set
While you’re learning about business, marketing, journalism or philosophy, you’re likely to pick up additional skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking.
Nowadays:
Employers appreciate job candidates who have skills that go beyond a chosen major.
In fact:
You may be hired specifically because you know how to think critically and analyze a situation from multiple angles.
This is probably one of the best reasons to go to college. Because skills that translate to real life problems matter!
Wrong Reason: Because Your Friend or Significant Other Is Going
You and your friends have known each other for years, and maybe you aren’t quite ready to say goodbye to them when they head off to college. And perhaps the same can be said of your boyfriend or girlfriend.
Deciding to go to college mainly because your friends or significant other decides to is likely to result in resentment, disappointment, frustration and possibly even a fractured relationship.
No matter how much love you have for your friends or significant other:
You all have to live your own lives and make decisions rooted in what feels right.
Again:
College is often expensive, and you should be working on developing good financial habits rather than poor ones.
At the end of the day, you have to remember that you are NOT defined by a degree, no matter if you decide to go to college or not.
Take some time to think about what you want from your life and how you can get it.
What reasons to go to college do you think are most important to consider?
Leave me a comment to let me know what is going (or went) into your college decision process.
Or anything else you think that people questioning, “why go to college?” should know!
About Charlie
Charlie is the co-founder of College Life Made Easy and author of the book 175+ Things to Do Before You Graduate College. She’s a 2015 graduate who teaches overwhelmed students and parents of students how to confidently navigate the whole college thing. As a former broke college kid, she’s passionate about helping students develop the skills they need in order to thrive (instead of just survive), stress less, and actually enjoy the full college experience.